Geranium plant named ‘MACGER001’

ABSTRACT

‘MACGER001’ is a new and distinctive variety of Geranium hybrid plant which is characterized by dark greyed-green foliage that is suffused with bronze and vibrant red-purple flowers with very dark purple venation and floral eye. The new variety propagates successfully by stem cuttings and tissue culture and has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Geranium pratense x Geranium psilostemon.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Geranium hybrid disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘MACGER001’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2020/0533, filed Feb. 18, 2020, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘MACGER001’ is the result of a controlled cross-pollination breeding program carried out by the inventors at their commercial nursery in Kirkcudbright, Scotland, in the summer of 2015. The inventors performed a controlled cross-pollination of the emasculated seed parent, an unnamed Geranium pratense plant (unpatented), with an unnamed Geranium psilostemon plant (unpatented), the pollen parent. Said pollination was performed in an insect proof environment. Seed from said cross was harvested, then germinated, and the resulting seedlings were then grown to a mature size in a protected poly tunnel greenhouse. In October of 2015, the inventors selected the new Geranium cultivar for its unique flower color and dark foliage. This new and distinctive cultivar was given the name ‘MACGER001’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘MACGER001’ was first accomplished in October of 2015 by way of vegetative division and subsequently by way of meristematic tissue culture micro propagation at a laboratory in Rijswijk, the Netherlands. Four successive generations have shown that the unique features of the instant cultivar are stable and reproduce true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MACGER001’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the instant environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Geranium cultivar, ‘MACGER001’.

-   -   1. Geranium ‘MACGER001’ exhibits dark greyed-green foliage that         is suffused with a dark bronze coloration; and     -   2. Geranium ‘MACGER001’ exhibits foliage that is margined         greyed-purple; and     -   3. Geranium ‘MACGER001’ exhibits vibrant red-purple flowers with         very dark purple veins radiating outward from a very dark purple         floral eye.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the typical foliage and growth characteristics of the new cultivar, ‘MACGER001’.

FIG. 2 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the typical flower of the plant in FIG. 1.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of Geranium plant known as ‘MACGER001’, based upon observations of 12-month-old plants grown outdoors in Kirkcudbright, Scotland. Plants were grown with full sun to partial shade exposure and subsisted on natural rainfall with supplemental irrigation provided during periods of dry weather. Plants were grown in a nutrient-rich compost but were otherwise not given any supplemental fertilizer. No chemical pest treatments were given to the plants. Observation data was recorded in May of 2021.

A botanical description of ‘MACGER001’ and comparisons with the parents and most similar variety of common knowledge are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Broad-spreading herbaceous perennial with             flowering stems arising from the base, and inflorescence             held within and at the foliar plane.         -   Plant profile.—Globular.         -   Height.—31.8 cm to the top of the foliar plane; 32.0 cm to             the top of the floral plane.         -   Spread.—61.7 cm.         -   Plant vigor.—Very vigorous.         -   Growth rate.—Fast growing.         -   Propagation.—Method — Meristematic tissue culture. Time to             initiate rooting — Approximately 10 to 14 days at an average             ambient temperature of 22 degrees Celsius. Time to produce             flowering plant from rooted cutting — Approximately 4 months             in a 15 cm container.         -   Pest resistance and susceptibility.—Plants have not been             observed to be any more or less susceptible or resistant to             pathogens and pests known to effect Geranium sp.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 5             to 9 and temperatures ranging from minus 23 degrees Celsius             to 35 degrees Celsius; moderate tolerance to rain; moderate             tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   Description.—A moderately dense network slightly fleshy,             fibrous lateral roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately branched and evenly distributed             throughout the soil profile.         -   Root diameter.—2.0 mm at the base, on average.         -   Texture.—Smooth; glabrous.         -   Color.—Greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. -   Stem:     -   -   Branching habit.—Basally and laterally branched; moderately             free branching.         -   Number of primary (main) stems per plant.—2.         -   Number of secondary (lateral) branches per plant.—1.         -   Attitude.—Upright, at an average angle of 5 degrees from             vertical.         -   Aspect.—Rounded.         -   Length.—53.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Internode length.—8.8 cm.         -   Texture.—Densely covered with short, glandular hairs; hairs             are colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D, and are 0.8             mm long, on average.         -   Luster.—Moderately glossy.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color, juvenile.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144D; suffused             with greyed-purple, proximally, nearest to a mixture of RHS             185B an 185C.         -   Color, mature.—Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N186C.         -   Color at internodes.—Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 183D;             suffused with yellow-green, nearest to RHS N144B. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves are borne both basally and on stems;             basal leaf arrangement is alternate and leaves on stems are             arranged alternately.         -   Basal leaves.—Attachment — Petiolate. Division — Simple.             Leaf shape — Deeply palmate, with an average of seven deeply             cleft lobes, and a reniform to near orbicular profile. Lobes             — Depth of sinuses — Deep. Sinus orientation — Convergent.             Dimensions — 18.4 cm long, excluding the petiole, and 19.6             cm wide. Leaf attitude — Upright and outward, at an average             angle of 45 degrees to vertical. Leaf apex — Acute. Leaf             base — Hastate with basal lobes touching. Leaf margin —             Coarsely serrate. Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces —             Slightly rugose; pubescent. Pubescence, adaxial surface —             Moderately covered with short hairs with an average length             of 0.2 mm; colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D.             Pubescence, abaxial surface — Sparsely covered with short             hairs with an average length of 0.2 mm; colored             greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Luster, adaxial surface —             Very slightly glossy. Luster, abaxial surface — Very             slightly glossy. Color — Juvenile foliage color, adaxial             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144A and             144B; narrowly margined greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture             of RHS 177A and 177B. Juvenile foliage color, abaxial             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B; narrowly             margined greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture of RHS 177A and             177B. Mature leaf color, adaxial surface — Greyed-green,             nearest to RHS N189A yet slightly darker; narrowly margined             and tipped brown, nearest to RHS 200A. Mature leaf color,             abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN1 37D; narrowly             margined and tipped greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture of             RHS 178A and 178B. Venation — Type — Palmate. Vein color,             adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137D. Vein color,             abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS N148B.             Petiole — Length — 21.6 cm. Diameter — 0.4 cm. Strength —             Strong. Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Sparsely             covered with soft hairs, becoming moderately pubescent             towards the proximal end of the petiole; average length of             hairs is 0.2 cm; colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D.             Luster, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Glossy. Color,             adaxial surface — Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 183A;             suffused with yellow-green towards the distal end of the             petiole, nearest to RHS 144B. Color, abaxial surface —             Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 183B; suffused with             yellow-green towards the distal end of the petiole, nearest             to RHS 144B. Stipules — General — Two leafy stipules present             at the base of each leaf. Shape — Ovate. Length — 0.9 cm.             Diameter — 0.3 cm. Apex — Acuminate. Base — Broad cuneate.             Margins — Serrate. Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces —             Densely covered with soft hairs; average length of hairs is             0.1 cm; colored white, RHS N155A. Luster, adaxial and             abaxial surfaces — Moderately glossy. Color, adaxial surface             — Greyed-red, nearest to RHS 183A; main vein is brown,             nearest to RHS 200B. Color, abaxial surface — Greyed-red,             nearest to RHS 183A; main vein is brown, nearest to RHS             200B.         -   Leaves borne on the stems.—Quantity — Approximately 28             leaves per stem. Attachment — Petiolate. Division — Simple.             Leaf shape — Deeply palmate, with an average of five deeply             cleft lobes, and a reniform to near orbicular profile. Lobes             — Depth of sinuses — Deep. Sinus orientation — Convergent.             Dimensions — 6.4 cm long, excluding the petiole, and 8.3 cm             wide. Leaf attitude — Leaves in an average angle of 90             degrees to the stem. Leaf apex — Acute. Leaf base — Hastate             with basal lobes free. Leaf margin — Coarsely serrate.             Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Slightly rugose;             pubescent. Pubescence, adaxial surface — Moderately covered             with short hairs with an average length of 0.2 mm; colored             greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Pubescence, abaxial             surface — Sparsely covered with short hairs with an average             length of 0.2 mm; colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D.             Luster, adaxial surface — Very slightly glossy. Luster,             abaxial surface — Very slightly glossy. Color — Juvenile             foliage color, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS 143B.             Juvenile foliage color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to a mixture of RHS 144A and 144B; narrowly margined             greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture of RHS 177A and 177B.             Mature leaf color, adaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest             to RHS N189A yet slightly darker; narrowly margined and             tipped brown, nearest to RHS 200A. Mature leaf color,             abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137D; narrowly             margined and tipped greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture of             RHS 178A and 178B. Venation — Type — Palmate. Vein color,             adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137D. Vein color,             abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS N148B.             Petiole — Length — 0.5 cm. Diameter — 0.2 cm. Strength —             Strong. Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Sparsely             covered with soft hairs, becoming moderately pubescent             towards the proximal end of the petiole; average length of             hairs is 0.2 cm; colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D.             Luster, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Glossy. Color,             adaxial surface — Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 183B. Color,             abaxial surface — Greyed-red, nearest to RHS 178A. Stipules             — General — Two leafy stipules present at the base of each             leaf. Shape — Ovate. Length — 0.9 cm. Diameter — 0.3 cm.             Apex — Acuminate. Base — Broad cuneate. Margins — Serrate.             Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Densely covered with             soft hairs; average length of hairs is 0.1 cm; colored             white, RHS N155A. Luster, adaxial and abaxial surfaces —             Moderately glossy. Color, adaxial surface — Greyed-red,             nearest to RHS 183A; main vein is brown, nearest to RHS             200B. Color, abaxial surface — Greyed-red, nearest to RHS             183A; main vein is brown, nearest to RHS 200B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Habit.—Dichotomous cyme with two pedicellate flowers borne             at the end of the peduncle.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring into summer in             Kirkcudbright, Scotland.         -   Time to flower or response time.—Approximately 9 months.         -   Quantity of open flowers per plant.—12, on average.         -   Quantity of flower buds per plant.—50, on average.         -   Quantity of flowers and flower buds per plant.—62, on             average.         -   Peduncles.—Length — Average of 6.0 cm. Diameter — Average of             0.15 cm. Angle — Average angle to stem is 55 degrees.             Strength — Moderately strong. Texture — Smooth and densely             pubescent; hairs are soft with an average length of 0.8 mm;             colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Luster —             Moderately glossy. Color — Nearest to a mixture of             greyed-purple to brown, RHS N186C and 200B. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Length.—1.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.7 cm.         -   Texture.—Densely pubescent; hairs are soft with an average             length of 0.5 mm; colored white, nearest to RHS N155A.         -   Luster.—Matte.         -   Color.—Green, nearest to RHS 138B; axially striped with             brown, nearest to RHS N200A; apex is suffused with purple,             nearest to RHS N78A. -   Flower:     -   -   Shape, type.—Rotate; single.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outward.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Approximately seven days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—Non-fragrant.         -   Diameter.—5.3 cm.         -   Depth.—1.2 cm.         -   Pedicels.—Length — 2.6 cm. Diameter — 0.1 cm. Angle —             Average angle to peduncle is approximately 55 degrees.             Strength — Moderately strong. Texture — Smooth and densely             pubescent; hairs are soft with an average length of 0.8 mm;             colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Luster —             Moderately glossy. Color — Greyed-brown, nearest to RHS             199B; underside is darker, nearest to RHS N199B.         -   Calyx.—Shape — Rotate. Length — 0.7 cm. Diameter — 2.1 cm.             Sepals — Arrangement — Rotate; one whorl of sepals which             alternate between broad sepals and narrow sepals. Quantity —             5 unfused sepals; 5 broad sepals and 5 narrow sepals. Shape             — Ovate. Aspect — Slightly concave. Dimensions — 1.4 cm long             and 0.6 cm wide. Apex — Mucronate. Base — Cuneate. Margin —             Entire; no undulation. Texture and luster, upper surface —             Smooth, pubescent, and moderately glossy; densely covered             with short, glandular hairs with an average length of 0.5 mm             and colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Texture and             luster, lower surface — Smooth, pubescent, and matte;             densely covered with short, glandular hairs with an average             length of 0.5 mm and colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS             156D. Color — When opening, upper surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 144A; margins are lighter and translucent,             nearest to RHS 145D; tipped brown, nearest to RHS 200B. When             opening, lower surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B;             margined greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 183B; tipped brown,             nearest to RHS 200B. Fully opened, upper surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A; margins are lighter and             translucent, nearest to RHS 145D; tipped brown, nearest to             RHS 200B; not fading. Fully opened, lower surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B; margined greyed-purple,             nearest to RHS 183B; tipped brown, nearest to RHS 200B; not             fading. Venation — Fully opened, upper surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. Fully opened, lower             surface — Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 183B.         -   Petals.—Quantity — Five. Arrangement — Rotate; arranged in a             single whorl of unfused petals. Length — 2.8 cm. Width —             2.5 cm. Shape — Broad obovate. Apex — Rounded. Base — Narrow             cuneate. Margin — Entire; lightly undulated. Texture, upper             surface — Glabrous, moderately velvety and matte; base is             glossy. Texture, lower surface — Glabrous, slightly velvety,             and matte. Petal color — When opening, upper surface —             Purple, nearest to a mixture of RHS N78A and NN78A; veined             black, nearest to RHS 203D. When opening, lower surface —             Purple, nearest to a mixture of RHS N78B and NN78C; veined             violet-blue to black, nearest to a mixture of RHS N92A and             203B. Fully opened, upper surface — Purple, nearest to a             mixture of RHS N78A and NN78A; veined black, nearest to RHS             203D. Fully opened, lower surface — Purple, nearest to RHS             NN78A; veined violet-blue to black, nearest to a mixture of             RHS N92A and 203B. When faded, upper surface —             Purple-violet, nearest to RHS N81A; veined black, nearest to             RHS 203D. When faded, upper surface — Purple-violet, nearest             to a mixture of RHS N81B N82A; veined black, nearest to RHS             203D. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens — Quantity — Approximately 10. Anthers —             Shape — Oblong. Dimensions — 0.2 cm long and 0.1 cm wide.             Color — Nearest to a mixture of brown and black, RHS 200A             and 203A. Filaments — Length — 0.8 cm. Color —             Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N186C; fading to yellow-green             towards the base, nearest to RHS 145C. Amount of Pollen —             Sparse. Pollen color — Yellow, nearest to RHS 11B.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil — Quantity — One. Length — 0.5 cm. Style —             Length — 0.45 cm. Color — Nearest to a mixture of             violet-blue and greyed-purple, RHS N92A and N186C. Stigma —             Quantity — Five. Shape — Curled. Length — 0.15 cm. Diameter             — 0.6 cm. Color — Nearest to a mixture of violet-blue and             greyed-purple, RHS N92A and N186C. Ovary Color —             Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 183B. -   Seed and fruit:     -   -   Fruit.—Shape — Oblong. Quantity — 62. Dimensions — 2.8 cm             long and 0.6 cm in diameter. Texture — Densely covered with             short glandular hairs with an average length of 0.8 mm and             colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. The glandular tip             is generally colored with a mixture of greyed-red and             greyed-purple; the structure is too minute as to accurately             record color designations. Color, mature fruit —             Greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 173A, and axially striped with             yellow-green, nearest to RHS 151C. Persistent styles and             stigmas are colored with a mixture of violet-blue and             greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N92A and N186C yet slightly             darker.         -   Seed.—No seeds have been detected.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MACGER001’ differ from its seed parent, an unnamed Geranium pratense (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘MACGER001’ The seed parent. General coloration Lighter green by compar- Darker green by of the foliage. ison to the seed parent, comparison to and suffused with a ‘MACGER001’. bronze coloration. General coloration Darker red-purple by Lighter red-purple of the flower. comparison to the seed by comparison to parent. ‘MACGER001’. General coloration Darker purple by Lighter purple by of the flower eye. comparison comparison to to the seed parent. ‘MACGER001’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MACGER001’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent, an unnamed Geranium psilostemon plant (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘MACGER001’ The pollen parent General coloration Darker green by Lighter green by of the foliage. comparison to the pollen comparison to parent, and suffused with ‘MACGER001’. a bronze coloration. General coloration Lighter red-purple by Darker red-purple of the flower. comparison to the pollen by comparison to parent. ‘MACGER001’. General coloration Darker purple by Lighter purple by of the flower eye. comparison to the pollen comparison to parent. ‘MACGER001’.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MACGER001’ may be distinguished from the most similar known commercial comparator, Geranium pratense x G. psilosetum ‘Eva’ (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘MACGER001’ ‘Eva’ General coloration Greyed-green, Green. of the suffused with mature foliage. a bronze coloration. General coloration Greyed-purple. Green. of the foliar margins. General Darker red-purple Lighter red-purple coloration of by comparison by comparison to the flower. to ‘Eva’. ‘MACGER001’. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘MACGER001’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 